Language

Luis Martins de Souza Dantas

Luis Martins de Souza Dantas, Brazilian Ambassador to France, 1940

Dantas issued visas to hundreds of Jews in occupied France after the Nazi takeover in 1940. He did this against the strict order of the pro-fascist Brazilian government headed by Getulio Vargas, and at great risk to his diplomatic career. Several of the Jews arrived in Brazil and were detained by the Brazilian government, but were later released.